Facts about Coronavirus and How It Impacts Disney Travel
A month ago, I posed a simple question. Will Coronavirus impact American Disney theme parks? At the time, Disney had temporarily shut down two parks. On the whole, much of the situation was fluid, though. We have a much better perspective now. So, let’s talk about the facts of Coronavirus and how it impacts Disney.
Updated Infection Totals
The last time I discussed COVID-19, I linked to a site that tracks medical information about the outbreak. Worldometers indicated that North Americans had reported only 17 cases of Coronavirus virus at the time. I don’t have great news on this topic today.
As you’ve no doubt heard on the news, COVID-19 has become more of a problem in the United States. According to current data, 484 Americans have contracted the infection, leading to 20 deaths as opposed to 15 complete recoveries.
I don’t want to downplay any incident that causes 20 people to lose their lives. It’s a tragedy, and thinking about it makes me sad. However, I’m reporting facts and data right now.
A pertinent point here is that 56,000 people die annually from the flu or flu-like symptoms. That’s roughly 4,700 people per month. Contrast that to the Coronavirus deaths thus far. It’ll make you appreciate just how seriously you should take flu-like symptoms when you have them.
While the news will shove all the COVID-19 headlines down your throat, this situation is new more than it’s deadly. Media scare tactics notwithstanding, the fatality numbers are still quite low. If that changes, well, that’ll be a moment to freak out a bit.
Thankfully, we are NOWHERE NEAR that point yet. Currently, bee stings (!) have killed roughly the same number of people in the United States so far this year. So, let’s all be reasonable about Coronavirus despite the shock tactics media narrative.
Travel Concerns Abroad and at Home
I don’t want to dismiss the nature of the potential epidemic, though. Some countries struggle mightily with the disease, as they have taken the brunt of the infections.
Northern Italy just took the extraordinary measure of quarantining 16 million people. An AP reporter relays depressing stories of empty piazzas. On another continent, CNN believes that Chinese tourism may not recover for years. And, in news that strikes closer to home, The Oriental Land Company has closed Tokyo Disneyland for a couple of weeks.
Given all the troubling headlines, anxious travelers wonder whether they should move forward with planned trips abroad. However, some have expressed fears about domestic trips, too. I totally get that thought process.
Before I address it, I should acknowledge author bias. I’ve traveled twice since news of the Coronavirus arose. During one of those trips, I went to Walt Disney World, the tourism mecca of the south.
On the other mini-vacation, I went to a show in a large arena in Atlanta, the same place where the Atlanta Hawks play. Thousands of people were in the building that night. Obviously, I haven’t deemed the infection as dangerous enough to disrupt my travel plans despite my presence in high-volume areas.
Still, I must acknowledge that the situation has escalated in recent days. Now that states like New York and Oregon have declared a state of emergency, travelers have at least slightly greater cause for concern. COVID-19 has infected less than 500 people at the time of publication, but the numbers extrapolate at an alarming rate if an epidemic arises.
Government officials are correct to take steps to reduce the spread of infection. And businesses should do the same. This aspect leads us back to Disney…
Updated Disney Status
You may wonder about potential Disney vacations. It’s totally understandable. Even if you’re not, you may feel curious about Disney’s measures to prevent the spread of infection. After all, that’s a daily task at the world’s most popular theme parks. With so many children carrying bacteria, well, it would get gross if park officials didn’t take steps.
Comparing cold and flu season to Coronavirus isn’t reasonable, though. COVID-19 has demonstrated unprecedented growth thus far. So, it merits special consideration. Park officials have acknowledged as much. Disney went so far as to provide an official statement to People Magazine.
Here’s the full text:
“We know there is new information this week about Coronavirus in Florida,” the spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday.
“We have very stringent sanitation procedures in place at Walt Disney World Resort. We are in close contact with health agencies for information and guidance, and at this time, we are continuing to communicate to our Cast the importance of preventative measures such as frequent handwashing and rigorous cleaning processes.
“For guest convenience, we have placed additional hand sanitizers throughout our parks and resorts and will adjust our protocols as the situation warrants.”
A Second Disney Update
The Parks Blog later took the extraordinary step of having Disney’s Chief Medical Officer discuss the matter. You can and should read the entire update, but here are the pertinent bullet points:
- Training for cast members, with ongoing reinforcement on a regular basis
- Defined cycles for frequent cleaning and disinfection of targeted areas
- Easy access to handwashing facilities and hand sanitizers
- Quick response to spills, trash and other situations
- End of day sanitation procedures for restroom, kitchen, and other facilities
- Frequent cleaning and “wash down” of outdoor locations, including walkways and queues
Clearly, Disney’s put a lot of thought into ways to kill germs. I’d add that these are not preventive measures exclusively for COVID-19. The company does this every day at its parks to prevent disease. Nobody gives Disney enough credit for that. From the tiniest booboo to the most severe health matter, the company has prioritized your health during park visits.
What Should You Do about Coronavirus?
Okay, that’s the current status of Coronavirus along with Disney’s countermeasures. You may want additional information, though. Let’s say that you’re like my brother and sister-in-law and have a park vacation planned in the next couple of months. You may wonder what to do here.
As an overly opinionated person, I have thoughts. And my opinion on the subject is that Disney will decide for you. As long as Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, and Disneyland remain in operation, you should feel safe to visit them.
The company’s executives are monitoring the situation obsessively. No corporation in the world cares more about the safety of its guests than Disney. I sound like a shill when I say that, but I’ve exhaustively researched park safety measures. I’m in awe of Disney in this particular area.
Having said that, neither you nor Disney can control a lot of what happens next. Odds on dying from Coronavirus are currently so slim that I circle back to the bee sting comparison. So, you want to keep your vacation plans in place.
However, you should prepare for the worst. I strongly encourage you to buy Disney’s Travel Protection Plan or some other form of trip insurance. One of my colleagues wrote an excellent piece explaining the matter.
Since my wife worked in insurance for many years, she asks that I mention a vital point. No matter the trip insurance that you buy, make sure to verify that it covers epidemics/pandemics. Some insurance packages do not, which negates their value at the moment. Just play it smart right now.
The COVID-19 situation hasn’t devolved to the point that you should cancel your travel plans, especially to safe environments like Disney theme parks. You should cover your bases with insurance, though. That’s why it exists.